Model Profile for 1.0 ha Coconut Cultivation

1. Introduction

Coconut (Cocosnucifera) plays a significant role in the agrarian economy of India. Apart from the

importance of copra and coconut oil which is widely used in the manufacture of soaps, hair oil,

cosmetics and other industrial products, its husk is a source of fibre which supports a sizable coir

industry. The tender nut supplies coconut water, a popular thirst quencher of health and

hygienicvalue. Virgin coconut oil

(VCO), extracted from fresh coconut

kernel without any chemical processes

is abundant in vitamins, minerals and

anti-oxidants, thus making it the 'mother

of all oils.

Coconut is a crop of small and marginal

farmers since 98% of about five million

coconut holdings in the country are less

than two hectares. In the west coast of

India, the palm is an essential component in the homestead system of farming. While there is a

concentration of coconut plantations in the coastal regions of the country, it is also grown in the

hinterlands where the agro climatic requirements of coconut cultivation are met.

2. Scope for Coconut Cultivation and its National Importance

Coconut is grown in more than 93 countries of the world and Indonesia, Philippines, India are the

major producing countries of the world. Coconut is grown in more than 18.95 lakh ha in the country

with an estimated 16943 million nuts during 2010-11 with an average productivity of 8937 nuts per

ha. Traditional areas of coconut in India are the states of Kerala, Tamilnadu, Karnataka, Andhra

Pradesh, Orissa, Goa, West Bengal, Pondicherry, Maharashtra and Islands of Lakshadweep and

Andaman and Nicobar. However, several states like Assam, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Tripura,

Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh have emerged as non-traditional areas for the cultivation

of coconut.

3. Technical Requirements of Coconut Cultivation

3.1 Agro - climatic requirements

Coconut is essentially a tropical plant but has been found to grow under varying agro climatic

conditions. The mean annual temperature for optimum growth and maximum yield is stated to be

270C with a diurnal variation of 6

0C to 7

0C and relative humidity more than 60 %. The coconut palm

thrives well up to an altitude of 600 m above MSL. The coconut palm thrives well under an evenly

distributed annual rainfall ranging from 1000 mm to 3000 mm. However, a well distributed rainfall

of about 2000 mm is the ideal rainfall for proper growth and higher yield.

3.2 Soil

The coconut palm can tolerate wide range of soil conditions. But the palm does show certain growth

preferences. A variety of factors such as drainage, soil depth, soil fertility and layout of the land has

great influence on the growth of the palm. The major soil types that support coconut in India are

laterite, alluvial, red sandy loam, coastal sandy and reclaimed soils with a pH ranging from 5.2 to 8.0.

3.3 Selection of Site

Soil with a minimum depth of 1.2m and fairly good water holding capacity is preferred for coconut

cultivation. Shallow soils with underlying hard rock, low lying areas subjected to water stagnation

and clayey soils should be avoided. Proper supply of moisture either through well distributed rainfall

or irrigation and sufficient drainage are essential for coconut.

3.4 Preparation of land

Size of the pit depends on the soil type and water table. In laterite soils large pits of the size 1.2m x

1.2m x 1.2 m may be dug and filled up with loose soil, powdered cow dung and ash up to a depth of

60 cm before planting. In loamy soils, pits of size 1m x 1m x 1m filled with top soil to height of 50

cm is recommended. While filling the pits, two layers of coconut husk can be arranged at the bottom

of the pit with concave surface facing upwards for moisture conservation. After arranging each layer,

BHC 10% DP should be sprinkled on the husk to prevent termite attack. In laterite soils, common salt

@ 2 kg per pit may be applied, six months prior, on the floor of the pit to soften the hard pans.

3.5 Spacing

In general square system of planting with a spacing of 7.5m x 7.5m is recommended for coconut.

This will accommodate 177 palms per hectare. However, spacing of 7.5 to 10 m is practised in

various coconut growing regions of the country.

3.6 Planting Material & Planting

Vigorous seedlings which are one year old, having minimum of six leaves and girth of 10 cm at the

collar level should be selected for planting in the main field. Early splitting of leaves in the seedlings

could be a criterion for selecting good seedlings. However, 18 - 24 month old seedlings are preferred

for planting in water logged areas. Planting the seedlings during May with the onset of pre-monsoon

rain is ideal.

3.7 Varieties

The tall varieties are extensively grown throughout India while dwarf is grown mainly for parent

material in hybrid seed production and for tender coconuts. The tall varieties generally grown along

the west coast is called West Coast Tall and along the east coast is called East Coast Tall. Benaulim is

the tall variety grown in Goa and coastal Maharashtra. Laccadive Ordinary, Laccadive Micro, Tiptur

Tall, Kappadam, Komadan and Andaman Ordinary are some of the tall varieties.

Chowghat Dwarf Orange, Chowghat Dwarf Yellow, Chowghat Dwarf Green, Malayan Yellow Dwarf

and Malayan Orange Dwarf are some of the dwarf varieties grown in India. Gangabondam is a semi

tall type grown in certain tracts of Andhra Pradesh. Details of some of the coconut varieties and

hybrids released for cultivation in India are given in Table 1.

Table 1 : Details of coconut varieties/ Hybrids

S.

No

Name Area for which recommended Annual nut

yield/ palm

Copra

(g/nut)

Oil content

(%)

Varieties

1 Chandrakalpa Kerala, Karnataka, TN 97 195 70

2 Kerachandra AP, Maharashtra 110 198 66

3 Chowghat Orange

Dwarf

All coconut growing regions Tender nut variety

4 KalpaPratibha West Coast region and

peninsular India

91 256 67

5 KalpaDhenu West Coast region and

Andaman and Nicobar Islands

86 242 65.5

6 KalpaMitra West Coast region and West

Bengal

80 241 66.5

7 Kalpatharu Kerala, Karnataka, TN 116 176 68

8 Kalparaksha West Coast region and root

(wilt) diseases tracts of Kerala

65 215 65.5

9 Kalpasree West Coast region and root

(wilt) diseases tracts of Kerala

90 96.3 66.5

10 Pratap Konkan region 150 152 59

11 VPM-3 Tamil Nadu 77 191 66

12 ALR 1 Tamil Nadu 126 131 64

13 Kamrupa Assam 101 162 64

14 KeraSagara Kerala 99 203 67.8

15 KeraKeralam Kerala, Tamilnadu and West

Bengal;

109 186 67.8

16 KeraBastar Andhra Pradesh, Konkanregion

in Maharashtra and Tamilnadu

117 151

17 Kalyani Coconut-1 West Bengal 80 154

18 Gauthami Ganga Andhra Pradesh 90 157 68

Hybrids

1 Chandra Sankara Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu 110 208 68

2 KeraSankara Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra,

Andhra Pradesh

106 198 68

3 Chandra Laksha Kerala, Karnataka 109 195 69

4 KalpaSankara West Coast region and root

(wilt) disease tracts of Kerala

84 170 67.5

5 KalpaSamrudhi Kerala and Assam 117 214 69

6 Laksha Ganga Kerala, Tamil Nadu 108 195 70

7 Kera Ganga Kerala 100 201 69

8 KeraSree Kerala 112 216 66

9 KeraSowbhagya Kerala 130 195 65

10 Ananda Ganga Kerala 95 216 68

11 Godavari Ganga Andhra Pradesh 140 150 68

12 VHC-1 Tamil Nadu 98 135 70

13 VHC-2 Tamil Nadu 107 152 69

14 VHC-3 Tamil Nadu 156 161 64.5

15 KonkanBhatye

Coconut Hybrid-1

Konkan Region, Maharashtra 122 180 67.1

Source: Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasaragod

3.8 Maintenance of Coconut Garden

Regular manuring from the first year of planting is essential to ensure good vegetative growth, early

flowering and bearing and high yield. Organic manure at the rate of 30 kg per palm per year may be

applied with the onset of south west monsoon when soil moisture content is high. Different forms of

organic manures like compost, farmyard manure, bonemeal, fish meal, neem cake, groundnut cake,

gingelly cake, etc. could be used for this purpose. Green manure crops like sunhemp, glyricidia,

dhaincha, etc. could also be grown as intercrops to incorporate in the coconut basins later.

3.9 Manures and Fertilizers

Regular manuring right from the first year of planting is essential for good vegetative growth, early

flowering and bearing and sustainable yield of coconut palms. The first application of chemical

fertilizers should be done after three months of planting.

Particulars Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 onwards

FYM (kg/palm) 40 20 25 30

N (g/palm) 50 160 330 500

P (g/palm) 40 120 240 320

K (g/palm) 135 400 810 1200

Rock phosphate is recommended as source of phosphorus in lateritic and acidic soils. Fertilisers may

be applied in two split doses during May-June and September-October for the rainfed palms and in

four or more equal splits for irrigated palms avoiding the heavy rainfall period. In sandy soils with

acidic nature, in addition to these fertilizers, 1 kg of dolomite may be broadcast during April-May in

the basins and incorporated into the soil by forking.

3.10 Irrigation

Coconut responds well to summer irrigation i.e. summer irrigation @ 40 litres per palm per week will

increase the yield of nuts by 50%. Under basin irrigation, 200 litres per palm once in four days will

be beneficial. In areas where water is scarce drip irrigation system can be adopted. The quantity of

water recommended for drip irrigation in coconut is 66 per cent of the open pan evaporation.

3.11 Interculture operations

Tillage operations like digging, ploughing, forming small mounds during August - September and

spreading them in December - January, making shallow basins with a radius of 2m before the onset of

monsoon and filling it up at the close of monsoon are beneficial to the trees. Regular inter cultivation

needs to be adopted to keep weeds under control. In sandy soils, intercultivationmay not be

necessary.

3.12 Coconut based cropping systems

To maximise the utilisation of soil and sunlight in the coconut garden, intercropping can be adopted

with a variety of crops like pineapple, banana, elephant foot yam, groundnut, chillies, sweet potato,

tapioca etc. upto 8-10 years. During 10-22 years of age of the palms, crop like colocasia which can

tolerate shade can be cultivated. In older plantations, perennials like cocoa, pepper, cinnamon, clove

and nutmeg can be grown as mixed crops along with intercrops. Mixed farming by raising fodder

grasses such as hybrid napier or guinea grass along with leguminous fodder crops in coconut garden

has been found to be profitable which can support rearing of milch animals.

3.13 Harvesting

Coconuts are harvested at varying intervals in a year. The frequency differs in different areas

depending upon the yield of the trees. In well maintained and high yielding gardens, bunches are

produced regularly and harvesting is done once a month.

Coconuts become mature in about 12 months after the opening of the spathe. It is the ripe coconut

which is the source of major coconut products. Nuts which are eleven months old give fibre of good

quality and can be harvested in the tracts where green husks are required for the manufacture of coir

fibre. Economic life of the coconut palm is about 60 years.

3.14. Utilisation of Coconut

Coconut industry in the country is mainly confined to traditional activities such as copra making, oil

extraction, coir manufacture & toddy tapping. Coconut products such as virgin coconut oil, desiccated

coconut, coconut water based vinegar, coconut water are also made. However, coconut milk based

beverages, coconut chips, coconut based handicrafts, shell powder, shell charcoal and shell based

activated carbon are manufactured in the country on a limited scale. Neera, coconut water based non-

alcoholic health drink isnow gaining momentum in many states like Karnataka and Maharashtra. Coir

and coir based industry is one of the major segments using coconut by-products mainly the husk.

3.15 Linkages for Coconut development

Coconut Development Board has been set up by the Government of India with the mandate of

integrated development of coconut in the country.Technology Mission on Coconut is being

implemented by the Board to integrate various on-goingGovt. Programmes and to ensure adequate,

appropriate, timely and concurrent attention to all the links in the production, post harvest and

consumption chain of coconut. The Board's schemes are either implemented directly or through the

department of Agriculture/Horticulture of the states.

Financial institutions have also formulated coconut financing schemes in potential areas both for fresh

coconut planting and intensive cultivation. Integrated coconut development schemes with farm

infrastructure facilities like well, pumpset, fencing, drip irrigation system etc. have also been

considered. For coconut based industries, support is also given by the banks for setting up new units

which are also backed by the Coconut Development Board by way of subsidy.

The techno-economic parameters for the model project are detailed in Annexure I.

4. Financial Viability and Bankability

4.1 Project Cost

The cost of coconut cultivation in one hectare of coconut palm works out to Rs.2,33,800/-. The above

costs are average indicative costs. Banks may adopt higher or lower than the average costs depending

on local conditions and viability of the units. The cost of development of coconut gardenis given in

Annexure II.

4.2 Margin Money

The margin money / down payment prescribed are 5 %, 10 % and 15% for small, medium and other

farmers respectively. The rest of the cost of development will be provided as bank loan. However, in

the present model, 15 % of the unit cost i.e. Rs.35,100/ha has been considered as margin money.

4.3 Bank Loan

Bank loan of 85 - 95 % of the total cost of development shall be available from the financing

institution. Bank loan considered in the model is 85%. It works out to Rs.1,98,800/ha in the model.

4.4 Rate of interest

Banks are free to decide the rate of interest within the overall RBI guidelines issued from time to time.

However, the ultimate lending rate has been considered as 13 % for working out the bankability of the

model project.

4.5 Security

Banks are guided by RBI guidelines issued from time to time in this regard.

4.6 Financial Analysis

Financial analysis was carried out for one hectare of coconut cultivation. For financial analysis, the

income was assessed on a conservative basis. The productivity of an eleven year old coconut garden

was considered at 70 nuts per tree. The detailed calculation of project’s income and expenditure has

been indicated in Annexure III. IRR, NPW and BCR for the model works out to 17.58%,Rs. 22,572/-

and 1.11:1 respectively and the details are given in Annexure IV.

4.7 Repayment period of loan

The repayment period works out to thirteen years including seven years grace period for repayment of

principal. Interest will be paid from the income realised through inter cropping in the initial years.

Annexure I : Techno-economic parameters

Spacing 7.5 m x 7.5 m

Planting Material Seedlings

Plant Population (palms/ha) 177

Labour (Rs./manday) 200.00

Planting material (Rs./palm) 25.00

Farm Yard Manure (Rs./MT) 1.2 Urea (Rs./kg) 12.39 Super Phosphate (Rs./kg) 36.25 Muriate of Potash(Rs./kg) 27.67 Sale price of Coconut (Rs./nut) 10

Annexure II : Project Cost

(Amount inRs.)

Sl.

No. Item of expenditure

Year Total

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

1 Planting material including

10% casualty replacement

in second year

4425 443 4868

2 Manures and fertilizers 11446 10981 21030 29312 29312 29312 29312 160705

3 Plant protection 800 800 1000 1200 1200 1200 1200 7400

4 Land preparation 2000 2000

5

Digging, filling and

planting 4400 440

4840

6

Manure and fertilizer

application 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000

14000

7 Pesticide application 800 800 800 600 600 600 600 4800

8 Irrigation 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 8400

9 Intercropping 8000 8000

10 Interculture operations 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 14000

11 Harvesting 0 0 0 0 0 800 800 1600

12 Collection & Handling 0 0 0 0 0 1620 1620 3240

Total (rounded off) 37100 18700 28000 36300 36300 38700 38700 233800

Margin Money 23400

Bank Loan 210400

Annexure III : Income - Expenditure Statement

(Amount in Rs.)

Sl.

No. Items

Year

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Income

1 Nut yield per tree (no.) 15 25 35 55 70 70 70 70 70

2 Nut yield per ha (no.) 2655 4425 6195 9735 12390 12390 12390 12390 12390

3 Income 19913 33188 46463 73013 92925 92925 92925 92925 92925

Expenditure

1 Manures and fertilizers 11410 11410 11410 11410 11410 11410 11410 11410 11410

2 Plant protection 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200

3 Manure and fertilizer application 2250 2250 2250 2250 2250 2250 2250 2250 2250

4 Pesticide application 450 450 450 450 450 450 450 450 450

5 Irrigation 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200

6 Interculture operations 1500 1500 1500 1500 1500 1500 1500 1500 1500

7 Harvesting 600 900 1200 1500 1800 2250 2250 2250 2250

8 Collection & Handling 970 1620 2270 3570 4540 4540 4540 4540 4540

Total (rounded off) 19600 20500 21500 23100 24400 24800 24800 24800 24800

Surplus 313 12688 24963 49913 68525 68125 68125 68125 68125

Annexure IV : Financial Analysis

(Amount in Rs.)

S.No Particulars

Year

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

1 Yield (nuts/ha) 0 0 0 0 0 1770 4425 7080 10620 14160 14160 14160

2 Income 0 0 0 0 0 17700 44250 70800 106200 141600 141600 141600

3 Capital Expenditure 37100 18700 28000 36300 36300 38700 38700 0 0 0 0 0

4 Maintenance expenses 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 40100 41800 43500 43900 44500

5 Total Expenditure 37100 18700 28000 36300 36300 38700 38700 40100 41800 43500 43900 44500

6 Net income -37100 -18700 -28000 -36300 -36300 -21000 5550 30700 64400 98100 97700 97100

Financial indicators

Discount factor 15%

Present Worth of costs 207380

Present worth of benefits 229952

NPV 22572

BCR 1.11 : 1

IRR 17.58%